EU chief proposes special court 'to try Russia's crimes'

The European Union is seeking to set up a specialised court, backed by the United Nations, to investigate and prosecute possible war crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen announced.

"We are ready to start working with the international community to get the broadest international support possible for this specialised court," von der Leyen said.

"While continuing to support the International Criminal Court, we are proposing to set up a specialised court, backed by the United Nations, to investigate and prosecute Russia's crime of aggression," she added.

The Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC) launched an investigation into suspected war crimes in Ukraine days after Russia invaded the country on February 24.

Von der Leyen said in a tweet: "Russia must pay for its horrific crimes. We will work with the ICC and help set up a specialised court to try Russia’s crimes. With our partners, we will make sure that Russia pays for the devastation it caused, with the frozen funds of oligarchs and assets of its central bank."

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen floats the idea of a "specialised court" to put Russia's top officials on trial for the war in Ukraine.

"While continuing to support the International Criminal Court, we are proposing to set up a specialised court backed by the United Nations to investigate and prosecute Russia's crime of aggression," she says in a video statement.